Nature of Scotland Award finalists unveiled

The successful shortlist was announced at a reception in the Scottish Parliament

From the reintroduction of water voles and projects protecting farmland birds to ‘whale detectives’ and the creation of a new snorkel trail, the shortlist for RSPB Scotland’s prestigious Nature of Scotland Awards has been announced.

Now in their sixth year, the awards are organised by the RSPB to find and celebrate the most dedicated and passionate people working to protect Scotland’s internationally renowned wildlife and habitats.

The 2017 shortlist spans nine categories including Nature Tourism, Innovation and Marine Conservation, and the overwhelming number of entries this year came from a range of individuals, community groups, charities, businesses, volunteers and schools the length and breadth of Scotland.

The winners will be revealed at a presentation dinner hosted by Mike Dilger, ecologist, natural history presenter and writer, and Euan McIlwraith, BBC TV and radio presenter, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh, on Thursday 23 November. Since the event started in 2011, almost 50 projects, individuals and organisations have been recognised with a Nature of Scotland Award for their dedication to protecting the natural world.

The finalists include Scotland’s first ever snorkel trail which was launched by the Scottish Wildlife Trust in the north west Highlands earlier this year, a project to reintroduce water voles to the Trossachs after they became extinct in that area in the 1980s, and a group of ‘whale detectives’ who investigate strandings of these gigantic mammals.

On the judging panel were Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, Euan McIlwraith, BCC TV and radio presenter and wildlife expert, Susan Davies, Director of Conservation at the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Vince McKeown, Commercial Operations Director at the Scottish Council for Development and Industry and Susan Murray, Board Member for Scottish Natural Heritage.

Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, said: “Thank you to everyone who entered our Nature of Scotland Awards this year, the quality of entries has been outstanding and our judges had a tough task whittling the numbers down. It’s inspiring and humbling to see so many people working to protect, promote and enhance Scotland’s natural heritage, they should all be very proud of their efforts, but a special congratulations has to go to the 2017 shortlist, they’ve done incredibly well to make it this far. I look forward to finding out more about the important work they’re doing to help wildlife and celebrating their achievements at the award ceremony in November.”

This year’s awards are sponsored by GreenPower, The James Hutton Institute, ScottishPower, Vattenfall, Sustrans, The Ardmore, Turcan Connell and The Botanist. If you would like any information about the awards, including how to buy tickets for the 2017 Nature of Scotland Awards please email awards@rspb.org.uk or call the RSPB Scotland Events Team on 0131 317 4100.